Closed timber packing cases
Boarded on every side
Closed timber packing cases enclose heavy machinery and parts on all six sides, with a lid fixed down for transit.
- Softwood boards
- Lid and skids
Wooden crates and packing cases
We supply closed timber cases, open slatted crates, plywood cases and collapsible plywood crates built to your goods' dimensions, on skids or a pallet base, ISPM 15 marked when the load leaves Great Britain, delivered across the UK and priced to your postcode.
Every quote names the build, the internal and external size and the base, with linings and foam added when the goods need them. Tell us the weight of the goods in kg when you ask.
What is the difference between a wooden crate and a packing case?
A wooden crate has gaps between its boards or only a frame, while a packing case is closed on every side, so the case keeps out dust, rain and handling damage that a crate lets through.
- Framed crate
- A timber frame with no boards between the members, for machinery that needs bracing more than cover.
- Open crate
- Boards with gaps between them, so the goods stay visible and ventilated.
- Closed case
- Boards, plywood or OSB (oriented strand board) on every side and on the lid.
We supply the open and closed classes in four builds.
Wooden crates and packing cases for sale in four builds
We supply four types of wooden crate and packing case, each built to order for your goods.
Four builds cover the range, from the closed timber case to the collapsible plywood crate.
Open slatted wooden crates
Gaps between the boards
Open slatted wooden crates hold goods that need air or a visible check, using less timber than a closed case.
- Spaced softwood slats
- Skids for forklift entry
Plywood packing cases
Plywood panels on a batten frame
Plywood packing cases pair flat plywood panels with timber battens, for a closed case lighter than all-board construction.
- Plywood and battens
- Skids or a pallet base
Collapsible plywood crates
Folds flat between trips
Collapsible plywood crates arrive flat and fold up on site, then fold down again for return or storage.
- Plywood or OSB panels
- Integral pallet base
Large wooden crates built to your dimensions
Large wooden crates are built to the internal size of your goods, with no fixed standard sizes, and the external size follows from the build, the base and the timber.
No. Crate makers build to the load, so every quote starts from the goods' length, width and height.
- Internal size
- The length, width and height of the goods in mm, plus the space for any foam or bracing.
- Maximum external size
- The largest the crate is allowed to be, for a container door, a loading bay or a lorry bed.
- Weight of the goods
- Sets the board thickness, the battens and the skids; tell us the weight on the form.
- Base
- Skids or a pallet base, set out below.
- Lid
- Fixed down, or open-top on request.
Crates far larger than a pallet sit on long skids; a load that only needs a bigger base than standard is better on a large pallet. If the crate leaves Great Britain, the timber in it has to be treated as well.
Export crates with ISPM 15 heat treatment and marking
Export crates need the same ISPM 15 heat treatment and mark as pallets, because GOV.UK lists packing cases and crates as wood packaging material. The rule applies to goods moved from Great Britain to the EU and to Northern Ireland, and to any other country whose rules ask for it.
| Part of the crate | Covered by ISPM 15? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solid timber boards, battens and skids | Yes | Solid wood packaging, according to GOV.UK |
| Plywood and OSB panels | No | Processed wood, exempt according to GOV.UK |
| Timber 6 mm thick or less | No | Exempt according to GOV.UK |
A plywood case on solid timber battens or skids still needs the mark, because those solid parts are covered. What the standard exempts, and how the four-part stamp reads, is in ISPM 15 explained.
Only a registered member of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme can apply the ISPM 15 mark in Great Britain, according to GOV.UK, so every export crate is quoted heat treated and marked. The same treatment and stamp on the pallets under your goods are set out on our heat treated pallets page. An unmarked crate can be rejected or destroyed at the border, according to GOV.UK.
How are goods packed inside a wooden packing case?
Goods are packed inside a wooden packing case with a lining against moisture, desiccant to absorb what gets in, and foam or timber bracing to stop them moving.
- Line the case with tar paper or a moisture barrier.
- Add desiccant bags for sea freight and long storage.
- Fit foam or cushioning around fragile parts.
- Brace heavy items to the base with timber blocks, nailed or screwed.
Wooden crates on a pallet base with skids and forklift entry
Wooden crates stand on timber skids or on a pallet base, so a forklift or pallet truck can lift them without touching the goods.
| Base | How it is lifted | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Timber skids | Forklift from the two open ends | Long and heavy crates |
| Pallet base | Forklift or pallet truck, two or four ways, as the pallet allows | Crates sized to a 1200 x 1000 or 1200 x 800 mm footprint |
A base wider or longer than a standard pallet is built to the crate, in the same way as our bespoke pallets.
Assembled or flat packed wooden crate delivery
We deliver wooden crates assembled, or flat packed to cut the delivery cost, to sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Assembled or flat
- Flat-packed panels take less space on the lorry and fold up on site.
- Minimum order
- No minimum order, whether one crate or a run of the same size.
- Build date
- Built to order, usually 2 to 5 working days, with the date confirmed on your quote.
- Your postcode
- Sets the delivery price.
- Unloading
- Tell us if there is no forklift on site, and we plan the vehicle.
Wooden crate price and what sets the cost
The price of a wooden crate follows the build, the size, the weight of the goods, export treatment, the packing inside and the delivery distance.
- BuildA closed case takes more timber than an open crate.
- SizeThe internal and external size set the timber and the panels.
- Weight of the goodsHeavier goods need thicker boards and stronger skids.
- Export treatmentHeat treated timber and the ISPM 15 mark add a step.
- Packing insideLinings, desiccant and foam are priced per crate.
- Delivery distanceYour postcode sets the delivery part, and flat-packed crates cost less to deliver.
Send those six and one quote covers the crates and the delivery.
Get a wooden crate quote for your dimensions
A wooden crate quote covers the crates and delivery in one figure. Tell us the build, the goods' size and weight, whether the crate leaves Great Britain and your postcode.
- Buildclosed case, open crate, plywood case, collapsible crate or not sure
- Sizeinternal L x W x H mm, and any maximum external size
- Weight of the goodsin kg
- Exportthe destination, or within Great Britain
- Packing insidelining, desiccant, foam or none
- Deliverypostcode, assembled or flat, and the date you need them
When does a pallet box or a collared pallet do the job instead of a crate?
A wooden pallet box or a collared pallet does the job for loose goods stored or moved on one footprint, again and again, where a crate is built once around one load.
| Feature | Wooden pallet box | Collared pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Fixed timber sides on a pallet base | Hinged collars stacked on a pallet |
| Height | Fixed | Set by the number of collars |
| Reuse | Rigid, for repeated trips | Folds flat when empty |
Timber box pallets with fixed sides are on our wooden pallet boxes page. Hinged collars in three sizes, with lids, are on our pallet collars page. Plastic, folding and cardboard boxes sit with them under pallet boxes.
Wooden crate FAQs
Where can I buy large wooden crates near me?
We deliver large wooden crates to any UK site a lorry can reach, built to your goods. Send the size, the weight and your postcode.
Do plywood crates need ISPM 15 treatment?
No for the plywood panels, yes for the solid timber battens and skids on the same crate. GOV.UK exempts plywood panels, and the solid parts need the mark for export.
Do you sell used wooden crates?
No. We supply new crates built to order, because each crate is sized to one load. A used crate rarely fits another load's size.
Can a crate be made from a pallet?
Yes, hinged pallet collars stacked on a pallet make an open-top crate, with a lid to close it. A closed packing case on a pallet base is the alternative.
